Cognitive function and mood in MDMA/THC users, THC users and non-drug using controls

Lamers, Caroline T. J.; Bechara, Antoine; Rizzo, Matthew; Ramaekers, Johannes G.

doi:10.1177/0269881106059495

Cited by 87 publications

(85 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…In general, the subjects' performance increased throughout the first parts of the task but then dropped to start levels irrespective of placebo or THC treatment. The task has been repeatedly used for showing decrements in risk sensitivity in neurological, psychiatric as well as drug using populations (Bechara et al, 2001;Bolla et al, 2005;Grant et al, 2000;Lamers et al, 2005). Sensitivity of this task to acute drug effects, however, may be low as the task was never specifically designed for this purpose.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-Potency Marijuana Impairs Executive Function and Inhibitory Motor Control

Ramaekers

Kauert

Ruitenbeek

et al. 2006

Neuropsychopharmacol

332

247

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Human performance studies have usually relied on low-potency marijuana (4% THC) for determining THC-induced impairment. The present study was designed to assess the effects of high-potency marijuana (13% THC) on human performance. In all, 20 recreational users of marijuana participated in a double-blind, placebo controlled, three way cross-over study. The treatments consisted of single doses of 0, 250, and 500 mg/kg THC. Performance tests were conducted at regular intervals between 15 min and 6 h postsmoking and included measures of motor control (Critical tracking task), executive function (Tower of London) motor impulsivity (Stop signal task), and risk taking (Iowa gambling task). THC significantly impaired performance in the Critical tracking task and decreased the number of correct decisions in the Tower of London task. In addition, THC significantly increased stop reaction time and the proportions of commission and omission errors in the Stop signal task. THC-induced impairments lasted up to 6 h postsmoking as indicated by the absence of a THC Â Time after smoking interaction. Effect sizes for performance impairments produced by THC 250 mg/kg were relatively low but generally increased by a factor of two in case of THC 500 mg/kg. These data suggest that high potency marijuana consistently impairs executive function and motor control. Use of higher doses of THC in controlled studies may offer a reliable indication of THC induced impairment as compared to lower doses of THC that have traditionally been used in performance studies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-Potency Marijuana Impairs Executive Function and Inhibitory Motor Control

Ramaekers

Kauert

Ruitenbeek

et al. 2006

Neuropsychopharmacol

332

247

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Furthermore, MDMA users made more disadvantageous choices on the IGT relative to marijuana and non-drug controls, which may be related to poor inhibitory processes (Quednow et al, 2007) and reduced white matter integrity in the anterior corpus callosum (Moeller et al, 2007). Conversely, other studies reported similar performance among MDMA users and control groups on the IGT or other decision-making tasks, although the impact of marijuana use remains unclear (Fox et al, 2002;Lamers et al, 2006). The effects of acute MDMA administration on decision-making are inconsistent and may depend on the nature of the task (Ramaekers and Kuypers, 2006;Vollenweider et al, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reward-related decision-making deficits and elevated impulsivity among MDMA and other drug users

Hanson

Luciana

Sullwold

2008

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

101

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Background-The recreational drug, MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine; 'Ecstasy'), is a synthetic amphetamine derivative and a serotonin neurotoxin. MDMA use is associated with cognitive dysfunction and impulsivity, but since polydrug abuse is common among users it is difficult to attribute these problems specifically to MDMA. Moreover, few studies have examined rewardrelated cognitive processes. Our aim was to examine reward-related decision-making and impulsivity among MDMA users while controlling for polydrug use via appropriate comparison groups.Methods-We examined decision-making (Iowa Gambling Task; IGT; Bechara et al., 1994), selfreported impulsivity (Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire -Brief Form [Constraint subscale]; Barratt Impulsiveness Scale; Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale), and drug use among 22 abstinent MDMA users, 30 other drug users, and 29 healthy non-drug controls.Results-MDMA and other drug users showed comparable patterns of decision-making and impulsivity. However, both drug groups demonstrated poorer IGT performance and elevated selfreported impulsivity relative to controls. Poorer decision-making was related to heavier drug use in the past year, heavier weekly alcohol use, and meeting lifetime substance use disorder (SUD) criteria for more drug classes. Elevated impulsivity was associated with heavier drug use, heavier weekly alcohol use, more lifetime SUDs, and higher self-reported depression levels.Conclusions-These findings contradict the idea that MDMA is specifically associated with deficient decision-making. Drug users, in general, may be at risk for decision-making deficits and elevated impulsivity. Such behaviors may represent trait factors that lead to the initiation of drug and alcohol use, and/or they may represent behavior patterns that are exacerbated by extensive use.

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“…The likelihood of reporting symptoms increased with the extent of ecstasy use. Ecstasy users were also found to be significantly more depressed compared to controls in a study by McCardle, Luebbers, and Carter (2004) and more recently, Lamers, Bechara, and Rizzo (2006) found that relative to cannabis only and drug naïve controls, ecstasy/polydrug users were significantly more depressed and exhibited higher levels of anxiety. Finally, Curran, Rees, and Hoare (2004) and Hoshi, Pratt, and Mehta (2006) found that ecstasy users were more likely to attribute aggressive meanings to ambiguous sentences compared to nonusers.…”

mentioning

confidence: 90%

The association between the negative effects attributed to ecstasy use and measures of cognition and mood among users.

Fisk

Montgomery

Murphy

2009

Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology

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Objectives: In self reports, abstinent ecstasy/polydrug users claim that they experience certain ongoing affective and psychological changes including elevated anxiety, arousal and depression. In addition, various aspects of cognition (e.g. everyday memory, reasoning, executive functioning) appear to be affected. The present paper investigated the link between these two psychological sequelae. Methods: 95 ecstasy/polydrug users completed tests of reasoning, intelligence, information processing speed, executive functioning, and everyday memory. Affect was measured via a mood adjective checklist. Adverse effects attributed to ecstasy were measured via responses to adjectives reflecting changes in users since they started using the drug. In addition, indicators of sleep quality and daytime sleepiness were obtained.Results: Users attributed a number of adverse effects to ecstasy, namely heightened irritability, depression, paranoia and deteriorating health. Adverse effects were significantly and negatively correlated with aspects of intelligence, everyday memory and sleep quality. Length of use of ecstasy use was positively correlated with adverse effects. Conclusions: While many users attribute a number of adverse affects to their use of ecstasy it remains unclear whether these self perceptions are a corollary of the psychopharmacological effects of the drug or reflect factors which in fact predate its use.Keywords: ecstasy, mood, adverse effects, intelligence 3 The present research is concerned with those individuals who consume the street drug ecstasy, usually along with a range of other illicit substances. The main ingredient of ecstasy is 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). In a review of the literature, Parrott (2004) notes that since the late 1990s, in terms of psychoactive ingredients, chemical analysis reveals that most ecstasy tablets consisted of between 80-100% MDMA with the typical dose increasing during the first half of the present decade. Previous research from our laboratory has revealed that ecstasy/polydrug users are impaired on a range of cognitive measures compared to non-ecstasy using controls (Montgomery, Fisk, & Newcombe, 2005a; Montgomery, Fisk, Newcombe, & Murphy, 2005b;Montgomery, Fisk, Newcombe, Wareing & Murphy, 2005c;. However, it has sometimes proved difficult to establish a link between indicators of the level of ecstasy use (e.g. measures of lifetime use) and cognitive outcomes. It is possible that different patterns of drug taking may be associated with different levels of risk. For example, it may be the case that those persons who take ecstasy while engaging in excessive physical activity for prolonged periods of time in hot environments without adequately monitoring fluid intake are at particular risk from ecstasy-related neurotoxicity, (Parrott, Rodgers, Buchanan, Ling, Heffernan, & Scholey, 2006).Alternatively it may be the number of tablets typically taken on each occasion of use (Thomasius, Petersen, Buchert, Andresen, Zapletalova, Wartberg, et al. 2003) whic...

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Cognitive function and mood in MDMA/THC users, THC users and non-drug using controls

Cited by 87 publications

References 54 publications

High-Potency Marijuana Impairs Executive Function and Inhibitory Motor Control

High-Potency Marijuana Impairs Executive Function and Inhibitory Motor Control

Reward-related decision-making deficits and elevated impulsivity among MDMA and other drug users

The association between the negative effects attributed to ecstasy use and measures of cognition and mood among users.

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